Our Sound Quality Score And Tests Headphones

For our sound quality score, we evaluate the bass, mid-range, and treble frequency response, as well as frequency response consistency, total harmonic distortion, soundstage, and imaging of the headphones we test.

From music and movies to podcasts and spoken word, audio is arranged/mixed in a studio to have a distinct sound, and accurate headphones are able to reproduce that sound as intended. Though some listeners might prefer a more hyped bass or mid-range, in our tests, we consider an accurate and neutral reproduction to be more desirable.

Sound quality is how accurately audio is reproduced as intended by the producer/engineer. Our reference for headphones sound quality is the loudspeaker. The ideal headphone sounds like the ideal stereo speaker setup in the ideal room.

What it is: The tests are performed with the headphones’ most commonly used features enabled (noise cancelling, wireless, etc.)

Test results

Our tests

Sound Profile

What it is:

The overall sound signature of the headphones. The general tonal balance between the bass, mid, and treble ranges of the frequency response. The calculations are done between 20Hz and 9kHz.

When it matters:

When you want to find headphones that match your listening taste.

[Coming Soon]

Peaks/Dips

What it is:

How well the sound frequency response follows its own sound profile. The sound profile curve used is a smoother version of its own frequency response. Therefore, the peaks and dips represent the “wiggles” of the frequency response. The calculations are done between 20Hz and 9kHz.

When it matters:

When you want to hear all the frequencies without overemphasis.

Score components:

• 30.0%

  Peaks

• 10.0%

  Dips

Score distribution

[Coming Soon]

Frequency Response Consistency

What it is:

The amount of deviation of each frequency response pass, from the average frequency response.

When it matters:

Shows how consistently the headphones perform after re-positioning them.

Score components:

• 1.0%

  Avg. Std. Deviation

Score distribution

Frequency Response Consistency describes the variations in a headphones’ frequency response due to their fit on your head. Headphones will sound slightly different depending on the size and shape of your head, how they interact with your ears and whether you wear glasses.

Frequency response is the most important part of good audio reproduction. Although most listeners naturally compensate for variations in frequency response caused by their unique features, such as the shape and size of their heads, other factors like their preferred headphone position, and how the ear cups’ acoustics interact with their ears, may cause additional variations in the response. An inconsistent headphone may have a drastically different sound from listener to listener. This means a headphone that will sound bass-heavy for most could lack a lot of bass for listeners who wear glasses. The ideal headphone should consistently reproduce the same response regardless of positioning or head/ear shape.

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Raw Frequency Response

What it is:

The average uncompensated frequency response of the headphone. For in-ears and earbuds, this corresponds to the average of five measurements/re-seats on the dummy head (HMS). For over/on-ear headphones, this corresponds to the average of five measurements/re-seats on the HMS (Head Measurement System) for the mid and treble ranges, and five measurements/re-seats on five human subjects for the bass range.

When it matters:

This is for those who want to see the raw and uncompensated frequency response of the headphone. Some of the more advanced users are able to read and evaluate headphone frequency response in its raw form and without compensation. This will be especially useful to them if they have their own headphone compensation/target curve, which may differ from the compensation curve/target response used by RTINGS.com.

Frequency response is a measure of the magnitude of the output of a system compared to its input, as a function of frequency. In other words, it describes how accurately a system reproduces each frequency of an audio content, in terms of amplitude. For example, for an input signal that has three frequencies of equal amplitude (say, 100Hz, 1kHz, and 10kHz, all at -6dB FS), a headphone with a neutral frequency response would output a signal that, just like the input, has equal amplitudes at 100Hz, 1kHz, and 10kHz.

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Bass Accuracy

What it is:

Frequency Response from 20Hz-250Hz.

When it matters:

When the material is heavy on bass frequencies, such as those of kick drums and bass guitar.

Score components:

• 95.0%

  Std. Err.

• 5.0%

  Low-Frequency Extension

Score distribution

Bass frequency response describes how accurately headphones reproduce the low-frequency region of the audible frequency spectrum. Bass ranges from 20Hz up to 250Hz and represents the low thump/rumble, punch/kick and melodious basslines you can hear in tracks.

Good bass does not overpower the presence of instruments and vocals and adds excitement to tracks that would otherwise sound weak or thinned out. In our frequency response score, bass is assigned the same weight as treble and the mid-range.

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Mid Accuracy

What it is:

Frequency response from 250Hz-2kHz.

When it matters:

When the material is heavy on mid-range frequencies. This is the case for the majority of audio content.

Score components:

• 1.0%

  Std. Err.

Score distribution

Mid-range frequency response describes how accurately headphones reproduce the mid-region of the audible spectrum. The mid-range spans 250Hz to 2kHz and represents the lower and higher harmonics of instruments and vocals, as well as their comprehensibility and clarity.

The mid-range is where the bulk of the audible audio frequencies reside, and when unbalanced, causes the instruments and vocals in music to sound thin, distant or muddy/cluttered. In our frequency response score, the mid-range is assigned the same weight as treble and bass.

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Treble Accuracy

What it is:

The frequency response from 2kHz-9kHz.

When it matters:

When the material is heavy on high-range frequencies, such as voice, cymbals, and any other material where brightness, brilliance, and airiness is desired.

Score components:

• 1.0%

  Std. Err.

Score distribution

Treble frequency response describes how accurately headphones reproduce the high frequencies of the audible frequency spectrum. Treble ranges from 2KHz to 20KHz and represents the higher harmonics of lead instruments and vocals, cymbals, the sibilant tones (S and T sounds) and the airiness you can hear in tracks.

When treble is lacking, the higher harmonics of instruments and vocals lose detail and brilliance. This is significant, as the absence of good treble may make audio sound dark and lacking detail and presence. In our frequency response score, treble is assigned the same weight as the mid-range and bass, even though very high frequencies are less audible to older listeners.

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Imaging

What it is:

Imaging qualities are inherent to the audio content; the headphones have to ‘reproduce’ them rather than ‘create’ them. They determine how accurately the objects are positioned in the stereo image and how transparent the imaging is.

Having good matching between the left and right driver of the headphones in amplitude, phase, and frequency response helps accurately reproduce the positioning of objects/instruments in the stereo image that was designed or recorded without imbalances or holes. A low group delay can help you hear each layer of the audio content clearly and faithfully.

When it matters:

When accurately positioning the objects in the stereo image, and clear and transparent imaging is desired.

Score components:

• 17.0%

  Weighted Group Delay

• 27.0%

  Weighted Phase Mismatch

• 28.0%

  Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

• 28.0%

  Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Score distribution

Imaging describes the accurate reproduction of location, stereo width/balance, and transparency of instruments/objects, in the soundstage as intended by the audio source. Headphones with good imaging reproduce the slight time and amplitude differences between the L/R channels of the audio, which are responsible for generating a stereo image.

However some aspects of imaging are very hard to notice for the average listener and therefore, imaging may not be as important for everyone.

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Soundstage

What it is:

Soundstage qualities are not inherent to the audio content, the headphones have to ‘create’ them rather than ‘reproduce’ them. They determine whether the sound is perceived to be coming from inside or in front of the head, how open and spacious the soundstage is, how much the headphones acoustically interact with the environment, and how strong the phantom center is.

When it matters:

When an accurately produced, large, and spacious soundstage, similar to that of a stereo loudspeaker setup, is desired.

Score components:

• 15.0%

  PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

• 15.0%

  PRTF Size (Avg.)

• 20.0%

  PRTF Distance

• 20.0%

  Openness

• 30.0%

  Acoustic Space Excitation

Score distribution

Soundstage describes the perceived location, size, and environment where the music/sound is happening. Headphones that can reproduce this effect give the impression that sound is coming from outside in a room, rather than inside a vacuum in your head. A headphone with a good soundstage will sound more like speakers in a room compared to headphones on your head.

Soundstage gives spaciousness to an audio reproduction, which sounds more natural and open. This makes soundstage an important component of sound quality.

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Weighted Harmonic distortion

What it is:

The amount of subtle, unwanted frequencies (harmonics) produced alongside the intended frequencies by the headphones. This test differs from Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) by applying a perceptual filter to each individual harmonic before calculating the total. Higher harmonics and frequencies are given more weight.

When it matters:

When clean and pure sound reproduction is desired. Harmonic distortion is relatively difficult to hear, so it should only matter to those who care about the fidelity of sound reproduction.

Score components:

• 50.0%

  WHD @ 90

• 50.0%

  WHD @ 100

Score distribution

[Coming Soon]

What is not included

A few elements that you could care about are not included in the score:

• Format of audio (Compression, bitrate, digital, analog, etc…)
• Source of audio output
• Impedance and Driveability (Coming soon)
• CSD (Cumulative Spectral Decay)
• Dynamic Range Compression

If you feel there is an item missing that should be included, please let us know in the Q&A section.

Conclusion

Sound quality is how accurately audio is reproduced compared to the original audio arrangement. An ideal headphone’s audio reproduction sounds like a pair of loudspeakers in a room and is balanced and accurate to the source material as it was intended to be heard. For sound quality, we evaluate the bass mid and treble frequency response, as well as frequency response consistency, total harmonic distortion, soundstage, and imaging. Headphones that score highly for sound quality will sound great no matter what you are listening to.